Mercer Golfers Finish Second

SIMPSONVILLE, Ky. - The Mercer men's golf team posted the lowest team total in Tuesday's final round of the Cardinal Intercollegiate to capture runner-up honors at The Cardinal Club. The Bears' three-round total of 864 was powered by senior James Beale, who shot 5-under 67 and 4-under 68 in the final two rounds to place fifth individually.

Mercer compiled a team score of 284 for the second-straight day on Tuesday, helping the team leap past Austin Peay State for runner up-honors. The tournament total of 864 was just four strokes behind host Louisville for the title and marked the program's highest finish since winning the Frito Lay Intercollegiate on February 21, 2011.

"We had four guys finish in the top 20 which is pretty good, and we were the low team the final two rounds so I'm proud of the way they played," Mercer head coach Steve Bradley said. "A solid finish gives us confidence going into the Brickyard.

Beale was one of just two participants to have multiple rounds in the 60's, notching scores of 78, 67 and 68 to take his third career top-five finish. In three rounds, he led all players with 15 birdies while tying for fourth in par-three scoring (3.08) and tying for second in par-four scoring (3.87).

Junior Trey Rule was steady throughout, booking scores of 73, 72 and 72 to tie for 12th place overall. Senior Hans Reimers fired the team's low round for the event, shooting 5-under 67 on Tuesday to rise into 13th place. That effort came on the heels of a 77 and a 74 on Monday.

Freshman Emmanuel Kountakis followed Monday scores of 73 and 71 with a 76 and tied for 16th in his first collegiate competition. His classmate Sean Smothers rounded out Mercer competitors with a 49th place showing after shooting 76 to cap the tournament at 228.

Mercer returns to competition hosting the Brickyard Collegiate Golf Championship at The Brickyard at Riverside on October 3-6.